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Test your knowledge by tuning into a BBC weather forecast today, and see how many symbols and terms you can spot. This article was published in August 2020 and updated in July 2024
- Date and Time
- Weather Symbols
- Chance of Precipitation
- Temperature
- Feels Like
- Temperatures in Day Tab
- Wind Direction and Speed
- Wind Gust
- Humidity
- UV
The forecast table gives you an overview of the weather forecast at a specific location, for the next seven days. We provide a long-range 28-day forecast for the UK as a whole. You can find it underneath the forecast table, below the map and flood warnings. The time displayed in the table shows the forecast data for that specific moment in time, on...
The symbols on the forecast are automatically updated when there is new information available. We use the most recent observation data from across the UK and around the world. This helps to make the forecasts as accurate as possible. Our 7 day forecast page also has regional information lower down the page. It is helpful to read this along with the...
For example, a 70% chance means a 7 in 10 chance that precipitation will fall at some point during that period. Precipitation means falling water (rain, sleet, snow, hail or drizzle). We show the chance that at least 0.1mm of precipitation will fall within 1 hour, on the hourly forecast. Or 0.3mm within 3 hours on the 3 hourly forecast. This precip...
The number in the coloured bars shows the air temperature at that time. You can select which units to show in Settings (Celsius or Fahrenheit).
Feels like temperature takes into account wind speed and humidity. This makes it easier to understand how the temperature will feel.
These are the maximum (highest) temperature that is forecast for the day and the minimum (lowest) temperature that is forecast at night. Day is from 9am to 9pm and night is the following 9pm to 9am. Sometimes the highest temperature for the day will be higher than the temperatures shown in the table. This is because it is the highest temperature fo...
The speed shows the average wind speed expected at that point in time. This is the mean (average) wind speed you may encounter, though in reality the wind will strengthen and lull above and below this value. The arrow shows the direction that the wind is blowing. The letter shows the direction the wind is blowing from (on a standard 16-point compas...
This value represents the highest wind speed between the time shown and the start of the next period. Strong winds are shown in bold and represent speeds of 25 knots (or 29 miles per hour) or above.
Humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air. If there is a lot of water vapour, the humidity will be high. The higher the percentage of humidity, the wetter it will feel outside. A value of 100% indicates that the air is saturated and no more water can evaporate into it.
This is an index, developed by the World Health Organisation, called the 'Solar UV Index'. It shows the strength of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The index is split into categories (Low, Moderate, High, Very High and Extreme). We have included advice about what you need to do to stay safe in the sun for each category.
- Polar vortex. The menacing phrase "polar vortex" is a relatively new term for winter weather forecasting, but meteorologists have understood it as a concept for decades.
- Atmospheric (barometric) pressure. Humans inhabit the very bottom of the Earth's atmosphere and everything above creates atmospheric pressure. High-pressure systems form when downward pressure creates a clockwise air rotation, unlike low-pressure systems, which generate counter-clockwise rotation.
- Inch of mercury. Inch of mercury is a unit used to measure air pressure. It represents the amount of pressure the atmosphere places on a one-inch column of mercury under standard gravity at zero degrees Celsius.
- Ball lightning. Lightning in its traditional form is frightening and deadly on its own, but ball lightning is scary even in the context of instant electrocution from the heavens.
Feb 6, 2009 · Listed below are descriptors of regularly used weather terms and their meanings to help give a better understanding of each forecast. Sky Condition The sky condition describes the predominant/average sky cover based on percent of the sky covered by opaque (not transparent) clouds.
- NWS Definition (LST)
- 6am-noon
- Noon-6pm
- 6am-6pm
- Weather forecast meaning. Weather forecast is the result of the process of predicting (forecasting) the state of the atmosphere for a particular place and time using science (meteorology) and technology.
- Weather forecast point. The weather forecast we are used to is a result of the complex work of lots of formulas and algorithms. The point is the place the forecast is calculated for.
- Weather forecast grid (spatial resolution) A point is a spot for which we calculate the forecast by introducing the available parameters. But it’s too costly to calculate forecasts for every square meter (feet).
- Weather forecast model. Solving complex equations for many locations constitutes a weather forecast model. According to the model, the forecast doesn’t change between the points.
Feb 23, 2024 · Weather symbols are graphical representations of a range of atmospheric conditions commonly used during meteorological forecasts to display current and predict future weather conditions. It is commonly used in conjunction with a synoptic weather map but can be displayed separately as well.
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Terminology used in weather reports, forecasts, and readings. Names and words used to describe the weather and climate. Forecasts, past weather, and climate information for your location
